Screen Freezes/Stutters

[Dace]

I keep gettin these annoying screen freezes/stutters. I've turned off all services running in background. Tweaked with my graphics settings. Installed latest Hi-Res pack. My limited computer instincts tell me it;s sound related. Could it be my USB headset? Could it be connection related? Any quick fix suggestions would be much appreciated.

P.S. Just came back after 6 months off from the game. Never did have this problem before.

[The Fugitive]

Post a dxdiag, only the top third is needed , to (sound devices) and we can start there. The high res pack may be too much for your computer. Some have had issues with usb headsets because they work your cpu as well.

[Tigger29]

It's easy... back the textures down to 512.  Are the stutters gone?  If so then your computer simply isn't strong enough to run higher (hi-res) textures.  Still there?  Try 256...

You can also unplug the USB sound and try playing.  If the stutters are gone then that could be to blame.

[Dace]

How to run the DXDIAG? Sorry it's been awhile.
                     

[The Fugitive]

For XP it's start/run and type in dxdiag and click ok

For Win 7 click start and in the search box type dxdiag and click the dxdiag in the box above.

When it done running, in the bottom right is a button that says "save all information" or something. Click it and save it some place you can find it...desktop is good. Close the window, double click the new file and copy and paste the top third of the info, up to and including <SOUND DEVICES>

[Dace]

Thnx Fugi. Here it is:

Time of this report: 11/22/2011, 20:14:26
       Machine name: HOWELL-PC
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Basic (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.110617-0336)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
       System Model: G41M-ES2L
               BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8400  @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
             Memory: 4094MB RAM
          Page File: 1399MB used, 7014MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0612&SUBSYS_057710DE&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 2286 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 495 MB
    Shared Memory: 1791 MB
     Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
      Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
   Driver Version: 8.17.0012.8026 (English)
      DDI Version: 10
   BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 8/3/2011 06:50:00, 15064168 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4552-11CF-346C-7B251CC2C535}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0612
        SubSys ID: 0x057710DE
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled

[Dace]

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (3- Plantronics .Audio 655 DSP)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: USB\VID_047F&PID_C008&REV_0132&MI_00
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: USBAUDIO.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.6002.18005 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 4/11/2009 00:39:34, 98944 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_1458A002&REV_1002
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5780 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 1/20/2009 01:12:54, 1699744 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (3- Plantronics .Audio 655 DSP)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: USBAUDIO.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.6002.18005 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 4/11/2009 00:39:34, 98944 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Realtek Digital Input (Realtek High Definition Audio)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5780 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 1/20/2009 01:12:54, 1699744 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

[The Fugitive]

I'm no pro at this stuff, maybe others will stop in and give an opinion, but when I was running my 8800 video card I would get the occasional stutter/pause when I was running the Hi-rez pack. I got rid of it and they seemed to disappear. I now have a newer card and have turned all the eye candy back on with out any problems. You might try turning down the rez a notch and seeing if it helps.

[Skuzzy]

Make sure you have disabled the "Superfetch" and "ReadyBoost" services in Vista.  They will cause all manner of performance problems.

[Noir]

what fixed the stutters for me was a firmware update on my Seagate Momentus XT Hard drive...

Do you experience stutters in other games?

[Dace]

what fixed the stutters for me was a firmware update on my Seagate Momentus XT Hard drive...

Do you experience stutters in other games?

I don't seem to have any problems with WoT or WW2OL.

Make sure you have disabled the "Superfetch" and "ReadyBoost" services in Vista.  They will cause all manner of performance problems.

Yep, I've had them off since day 1 per your sticky on Vista performance.

Could it be connection related? I have moved since the last time I played without the stutters.

[Skuzzy]

Depends on the type of stutters.  If remote objects appear to be jerking around, but not all of them, then it could be Internet related.  If the entire screen appears to be moving in jerks, then it could be resource issues.  It could be something taking time away from the CPU, sporatically, such as iTunes or some other service.

It could be video card driver related, if the driver is mismatched with the specific card.  It could be sound related if you are using multiple sound devices and any one of them is using the Microsoft supplied sound driver, as opposed to the native sound card driver.

Honestly, there are hundreds of things that can cause something like you are describing.

[gpwurzel]

Before I moved to the states and got a new rig, I sometimes got stutters when peoples skins loaded on my FE - annoying but not a big deal. You could try turning off show other peoples skins or whatever its called, see if that makes a difference (if it is that, your gpu isnt delivering enough oomph for the detail/textures your running)

Wurz

[MADe]

Go into device manager and disable sound card, see if game stutters.

Which nVidia driver are you using? If you are using one of the later ones, did you install, HD sound, any 3D stuff? Did you clean install the vid drivers.

Google the best driver for your GTX 9800, maybe an older release will work better. I just rolled back mine from 275.33 to 269.57. Doubled the frame rate in a benchmark.

Do not use nVidia sound drivers or install them, get latest realtek drivers from mobo manufacturer, clean install them. Driver Cleaner and the like had issues with w7, beware.

[TequilaChaser]

Heya Dace,
good to see ya back on the boards/in game....... hope you and Jish are doing ok

Now!  was you able to solveyour problem yet?

It shows you are running Vista Home, and you mentioned you are using a USB headset....... from limited experiences USB headsets can cause some small stutters, could you maybe try an analog set on your REALTEK onboard sound and see what you get?

also, going by your realtek sound driver ( I may be wrong ) but it looks like your Vista is 64 bit version, looking at that realtek driver.......... with only 4 GB's of memory and a 1399 pagefile used on your dxdiag report....... you may need to do some processes tweaking if you are wanting to run the 1024 hires package.....

I would think going by the dxdiag, if your system was clean & possibly tweaked, that you should at least be able to run 1280 x 1024 ( or widescreen equilvalant ) at a 60 Hz refresh rate ( or meaning 60 fps )

I had built (end of last year  I think it was ) a pc similar to yours using E8400 Intel cpu, a 9800GT 1 GB VC  / 4 GB sys ram and was able to run high textures 1024  @ 1280x1024  and obtained a steady 75 fps in semi furball environment ( but was using windows 7 64 bit )

I realize you are using 1920 x 1080 @ 60HZ  at the current moment.....      certian anti-virus programs can also cause one problems as well

let us know what you find out

& Happy Thanks Giving to You & Family

<S>

TC